Aviva Equity Release Conveyancing Lender Panel Compliance Tool

Lexsure’s COMPLETIONmonitor is an online pre- and post-completion checklist for residential conveyancing lawyers. Supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and PI insurers. It is a unique risk management tool.

This system optimises the way you can prove to lender panels that you are, and can remain fully compliant with their instructions, with alerts on Aviva Equity Release’s changes. Even though utilising the software is not a condition for being on the Aviva Equity Release panel, demonstrating you can remain up to date with Aviva Equity Release’s Handbook requirements is an excellent support to your application to their lender panel and, more importantly, protect your panel standing.

The system creates real-time alerts, automatically produces SRA and CQS reports, and will improve your firm's efficiency. In addition it is user friendly, cost-effective and, for some firms, results in reduced PII premiums.

Find a Law Firm approved by Aviva Equity Release

Mortgage companies frequently change their requirements. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements from Aviva Equity Release are not guidelines, they are instructions from a client. As with many clients, instructions can change - and they do change, over time:

A Timeline of Policy Changes


Since 2008, Aviva Equity Release has made 98 revisions or additions to sections of their version of the CML Handbook.
That equates to a section change every 27.9 days. In total, 20% of the sections of P2 of the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Aviva Equity Release have been changed since 15/12/2008.

To find out more about lender panel compliance,

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Recent Changes Include

# Date Assoc. Changes Related To
3.1.4 01/12/2014 CML
details of the seller's solicitors or licensed conveyancers
5.5.1b 01/12/2014 CML
conveyancing requirements in terms of time for building regulation consents
6.14.1a 01/12/2014 CML
contact point if property is not insured in accordance with lender requirement
3.1.5 01/12/2014 CML
ID Documentation
Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd approved lawyers requirements re ID Documentation: Further acceptable documents (if any)
17.2.1b 12/07/2013 CML
Evidence of Discharge of Mortgage
Do Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd send the discharge via a DS 1 form or direct with the Land Registry?
5.20.1 10/07/2012 CML
Solar Panels
Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd requirements for conveyancing panel/approved lawyers as to whether Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd need to be reported to where the lease does not meet the CML minimum requirements for leases of roof space for solar PV panels
5.20.3 10/07/2012 CML
Panels PV Solar
Existence of additional requirements set by Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd for conveyancing panel lawyers relating to leases of roof space for solar PV panels, and if so, what they are.
16.3.7a 01/12/2010 CML
Transfer of Equity
Contact details at Aviva Equity Release UK Ltd for approved lawyers for obtaining execution of transfer equity
5.5.1a 01/12/2010 CML
requirements in terms of time for planning consents
6.6.1 17/02/2010 CML
contact point if property is let/to be let and to check lender requirements on buy-to-let

Last update 06/11/2019

Frequently asked questions relating to the Aviva Equity Release Conveyancing Panel from members of the public

Is the fact that my solicitor is not isted on the Aviva Equity Release Solicitor panel that there is a problem with the standard of his conveyancing?
It would not be wise to jump to that conclusion. There are all sorts of perfectly reasonable explanations. A recent report by the solicitors regulator indicated 76% of law firms surveyed had been removed from at least one lender panel. The most common reasons for removal are: (1) lack of transactions (2) the lawyer is a sole practitioner (3) as part of the HSBC panel reduction (4) regulatory contact by SRA (5) accidental removal. If you are concerned you should simply call the firm and ask them why they are no longer on the approved list for Aviva Equity Release.
We are due to exchange on the purchase a house but as a result of damage from the recent storms I have agreed compensation from the seller of £3k approx by way of a reduction in the price. This was going to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process but my mortgage company Aviva Equity Release will not agree to this. Why was Aviva Equity Release even consulted?
Your lawyer being on the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel is duty bound to inform Aviva Equity Release of any changes to the purchase price. If you were to refuse your lawyers to disclose the reduction to Aviva Equity Release then they would have to discontinue acting for you and Aviva Equity Release.
What tools are available to search for a local solicitor on the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 25 kilometers to meet the lawyer.
You can use the find a conveyancing panel tool on this website. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the Aviva Equity Release solicitor panel.
The firm that I recently instructed on my house acquisition in London has without warning closed. I chose them because I had to have a solicitor on the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel and my preferred lawyer was not. I paid them £200 on account. What should be my next steps?
If you have an estate agent involved then inform them immediately so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to reasons beyond your control. Hopefully they will be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors may be able to help
Is there a list of Aviva Equity Release panel solicitors on the Council of Mortgage Lender’s Website?
No. There is no such tool on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association websites. Very few lenders make their panel listings available online.
I have a mortgage with Aviva Equity Release. My grandfather retired last week and wants to pay off the mortgage left on the property. After Aviva Equity Release is paid, I want to transfer the property to my mother's name; How long will it roughly take? Do we need two separate solicitors on the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel? I do not intend to live at the property once the Aviva Equity Release mortgage is discharged.
Although you do need to retain the services of a lawyer they dont need to be on the Aviva Equity Release panel. You will need a solicitor to draw up the transfer and to deal with the Land Registry formalities. The only thing you need to consider is that by selling at an undervalue so ask your lawyer about the implications. There could be an inheritance tax issue if you die within 7 years of this. There's no capital gains tax for you as it is your main residence.
My husband and I are buying a flat in Hendon. Conveyancing solicitors in Hendon are about to beappointed. My friendrecommended that we check that the conveyancing practitioner in Hendon is on the Aviva Equity Release approved list of lawyers. Aren't all lawyers on the Aviva Equity Release panel?
A limited percentage of Hendon conveyancing firms are on the Aviva Equity Release conveyancing panel. 7 people a month use our search tool to locate a Hendon conveyancing firm on the on the Aviva Equity Release panel.